Indian news round-up

Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar are among those who have been threatened by the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba. The militant outfit has threatened to kidnap the duo and hold them hostages, DCP (Crime) Pradeep Sawant said in Mumbai on Friday.

The threats to the players came to light when some members of the militant outfit were apprehended by Thane police some months ago, he said. Interrogations revealed that the militant group had prepared a list of persons who would be kidnapped to secure certain political benefits.

Former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay had yesterday approached Mumbai Police seeking protection after receiving threats from the same outfit.

Indian Cricket Board secretary Jaywant Lele said on Friday that the BCCI would follow the ICC's guidelines on controlling drug abuse in the game. Lele, in Jaipur to attend a meeting of the Tours and Fixtures Committee, however maintained that drug abuse was not prevalent in Indian cricket and the recent allegations against some cricketers were 'baseless'.

Asked whether the BCCI would introduce drug tests on the lines of those announced by the South African Cricket Board, Lele said, "These are the new challenges which cricket is facing and we shall find ways to counter them. We already have the code of conduct in which taking such substances is prohibited. And if ICC announces the guidelines and list of banned drugs, we will follow suit," Lele said.

Lele parried questions on whether the BCCI was contemplating legal action against 'Outlook' magazine which quoted former coach Anshuman Gaekwad as saying that some Indian players take drugs. "The matter will be discussed at the Working Committee meeting," Lele said. Gaekwad has since denied having made the allegations attributed to him in the magazine.

A cricket stadium at par with international standards will come up in Jaipur, the Rajasthen local Self-Government Minister Shanti Dhariwal said on Thursday. The Jaipur Development Authority had agreed in principle to provide land to the Rajasthan Cricket Association for construction of the stadium after the BCCI made a request for this, he told reporters.

The proposed stadium would host only international cricket matches, he said, adding that the RCA would spend Rs six crore for its construction.